Animal-shears



(No Model.) i

F. W. CARTER.

ANIMAL SHBARS.

No. 309,13L y Patented Dec. 9, 1884.

il A l l f. f

, liv/m2792102 jams Wam/Zen llrvrrnn drames Parisist* @rtree FRAhTCIS W'. CARTER, OF MORGAN, TEXAS.

ANIMAL-'SH EARS.

SPECIFCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 309,131, dated December 9, 1884.

Appncanon mea July 1o, 1884. (No maar.)

` shearing machines, especially those adapted to clipping horses or shearing sheep.

The purpose of my invention is to provide a tool of simple construction, having a less number of parts and of greater' durability and easier management than those heretofore ArO in use; also, to secure an equal wear of the teeth of the stationary and the revolving cutter-plates, and to enable the latter to be run in either direction, whereby the instrument may be run double the usual time before it is necessary to grind the plates, and enabling the tool to be used as a right or a left hand cutter; also, to render the cutters separable without arresting the motion of the rotary blade, whereby the tool may be easily cleaned and oiled; also, to provide means whereby the rotation of the cutter may be reversed quickly and easily, and, finally, to provide a simple device for throwing the miter-gears into and out of mesh.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective of the rotary critter. Fig. 4. is a similar view of the stationary plate.

In the said drawings, the reference-number 1 indicates the hand-grasp of the shearing tool, within which is arranged a shaft, 2, to the outer end of which the iiexible shaft 3 is attached. At its otherend it carries a mitergear, 4. This shaft has bearings 5 5, and at the forward end is so constructed that it may bc retracted a short distance.

Upon the forward end of the grasp 1 is formed a gear-box, 6, within which is arranged a vertical shaft, 7, having its lower end projeetcd through the bottom of the box and squared upon its extremity to receive the rotary cutter. The upper end, S, of the shaft is rounded to form a bearing, and projects through the top of the box. A button, 9, is

mounted upon the end, and a spiral spring, 10, coiled around the shaft, is interposed between said button and the box, by the ten sion of which the shaft is constantly drawn upward. Between its bearings the Vshaft is squared, as shown at 11, the greatest diameter of the latter being equal to the diameter of the bearing portion, to permit the removal of the gear carried by said shaft.

Upon the squared portion 11 is mounted a double ruiter-gear, 12 and 12, formed in a-single piece, and each gear having a collar, 13.

Upon the bottom of the box is formed a boss, 14, upon which the lower collar, 13, of the miter-gear rests, holding it in position to mesh with the driving-gear.

Upon the top of the box, and surrounding the shaft, is formed a similar boss, 15, to support the upper collar of the double gear. By retracting the longitudinal shaft 2 the double gear may be slid upward upon the shaft 7 until the lower gear, 12, is meshed with the driving-gear 4. By this means the rotation of the vertical shaft is reversed. The bottom 16 of the gearbox 6 is extended somewhat toward the rear, and a stationary cutter-plate, 17, is mounted thereon. This plate, which is shown in Fig. 4L, consists, essentially, of a central portion, 18, having three laterally-projecting teeth, 19, upon each sidatid teeth all being of equal length. E

Upon the forward end of thepla-te are ormed six teeth, 20, each of about double the length of the teeth 19, and each having upon its extremity a guard-tip, 21, which covers aboutA one-half the length of the tooth.

Projecting from the rear of the central portion, 18, is an extension, 2l, having upon its margin a guard-flange, 22, and through this portion is cut a centra-l slot, 23, extending from the flange to a point beyond the center of the middle portion, 18. This slotisbeveled upon each side to receive the head of au attaching-screw, 2i, by which the plate is secured to the gear-box.

The lower squared extremity of the shaft 7 projects through the slot in the stationary plate and receives a rotary cutter-plate, 25,hav ing a square central aperture, 26, to lit the shaft. The end of the latter is tapped to receive an attaching-screw, 27. The teeth of the plate 17 are beveled off upon the upper surface, and those of the critter 25 upon the inner surface, so that as the two plates lie to- IOO ` the tension of the spring 10. Byloosening the justed in the line of its slot 23, to regulate the gether their cutting-edgeslie flat one upon the other, and are held in close engagement by screw 24 the stationary plate 17 may be addepth of the eut. 4

Upon the shaft 2, near` the end of the handle, is coiled a spring, 2S, one end of which abuts against the end of the handle, while the other end is passed through an aperture in the shaft. Surrounding the latter is a ring, 29, hinged to an eye, 30, upon the bottom of the handle, thelatter being arranged just beneath the point Where the springend passes through the shaft. The ring is of such size that it will abut against the last coil of the spring, while at the same time it allows the free rotation of the shaft. To the upper edge of said ring is swiveled one end of a rod, 31, the other end of which passes out through the end of the handle, and is threaded to receive a turn-but ton, 32. By retracting the rod, either by turning the button 32 or by drawing it back by the hand, the shaft 2 will be retracted and the miter-gear 4 unmeshed from the gear 12.

By the construction of the vertical shaft 7 I am ableto throw the cutters apart without arresting the rotation of the rotary cutter. This renders it easy to cleanse them, as they may be lowered into a pail of water and all dirt, grit, and loose wool removed. They may also be oiled in a similar manner. Again, the instrument may be converted from a righthand to a lefthand cutter by retracting the shaft 2 and sliding the double mitergear up to the top of the shaft.

The cutters may be ground without taking them apart by throwing the teeth into proper position and then using a small thin-edged stone. l 4 By my invention the teeth on both cutting l plates wear about equally alike, being equally l involved in the work ofcutting.

. Q l, to prevent lthe dust, grit, and wool from choking the spring and the bearing.

hat I claim isl. In a shearing-machine, the combination, with a revolving toothed cutting-plate, of a stationary plate having teeth which project laterally and are of equal length, and forwardly-projecting teeth' of greater. length than the side teeth and provided with guard-tips upon their ends, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. f

2. In a shearing-machine, the combination, with a stationary toothed plate having adjustment relatively to the revolving plate, of a rearwardly-projecting plate having a guardange upon its rear margin, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a shearing-machine, the combination, with the drivingshaft carrying a miter-gear` and capable of being retracted, of a vertical shaft carrying the rotary cutter, and a double niiter-gear sliding upon a squared portion of said shaft to mesh either of said miters with the driving-gear, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. y

et. In a shearing-machine, the combination, with a rotary cutter running upon the lower face of a stationary cutter, of a shaft carrying the former, a ruiter-gear mounted upon a squared portion of said shaft, and aspring coiled upon the upper end of the latter and normally pushing it upward to draw the cutters into close contact, and at the Same time permit their separation without arresting the rotation of the cutter, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a shearing-machine, thc combination, with the driving-shaft, of a surrounding spiral spring having one of its ends secured to the shaft, a ring surrounding the latter and abutting against the last coil of the spring, said ring being hinged to the bottom of the handle, a rod swiveled to the top of the ring and pro- -By equal distribution oll the teeth and sety j jecting through the end of the handle, and a' ting their cutting-edges in the manner described I obtain a double set of such edges, permitting the tool to be used double the usual l time before sharpening it. The revolving plate is always self-adjusting and obviates all the com lex balancimY arrangements heretofore used. l l l A shield may be placed over the upper end of the shaft 7, as shown in dotted lines in Fig.

turn-button mounted on the threaded end of the rod, substantially7 as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix myfsi gnature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS XV. CARTER.

l'Vitnesses:

SAM R. CURRY, O. C. MCPHAIL.

ICO 

